Closest alternative to Hypoallergenic Food
 

My BLM is always scratching, the vet has stated he has allergies?? We had blood work done for a thyroid which came back negative. We have changed his food to food without corn with no success. Now he has sugested we go with Hypoallergenic food, bought the first bag, whopping $72 tax in! for 26 lbs. Told the wife we will have to go cheaper, is there any alternatives oout there? Should I go brands that state good for skin conditions only? or stay with the Hypo type that states food allergies/skin conditions? The Hypo I bought was 1st choice brand, the vet was suggesting Hill's which is around the same price but less lbs. My first thought would be if i try the Hypo first and the scratching goes away, then try the type that is for skin conditions and if he's good on that stay that course if not go back to the Hypo. I was looking at the eukanuba naturally wild product??

Thanks,

One of my three dog has allergies , so i feed [url]http://www.petcurean.com/index.php?page_id=179[/url]

its still $73 a bag but they eat less of this food as opposed to the cheaper foods , so i buy less.

Try a duck formula of anything, I think wellness has one, some others do as well, not sure on pricing though.
Bascially try changing the protien source in the food.
IF you are feeding a primarily chicken based, try fish or lamb ect.
Going with the vet recommended Hills I think its kangaroo or something you are feeding.( not 100% sure though) but all they are doing is changing your protien source.
YOu are going to have to do a trial and error feeding regime that eliminates certain things from the food.
It does take a few weeks to get the old food completely out of their system to pin point the exact "cause"
If you are feeding treats, stop. Unless you can find treats that also conatain only the protien that you are trying in the food.

Find a grain-free food & a different protein source other than chicken & lamb.

But, if you dog has been eating a commercial diet, you will want to read about detoxification before switching to a healthy non-commercial food, otherwise you might get discouraged & think it's getting worse.

With the dogs who have allergies at our rescue, we feed Natural Balance Duck & Potato. Allergy dogs do best one the food that has only 1 protein source (in this case duck).

My boy has bad allergies to everything. But at home we feed all our dogs raw. Works out to be about $60 per month per dog.

[QUOTE=totallyhip;681780] But at home we feed all our dogs raw. Works out to be about $60 per month per dog.[/QUOTE]

:eek: that would cost me $180 a month,i dont think its that much to feed me:rolleyes:

[QUOTE=wdawson;681787]:eek: that would cost me $180 a month,i dont think its that much to feed me:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Well the cost really varies. It depends on the size of your dog, and what kind of deals you can get! I doubt I spend more than $30 per dog per month, and I have two medium sized dogs.

[QUOTE=TulipRoxy;681795]Well the cost really varies. It depends on the size of your dog, and what kind of deals you can get! I doubt I spend more than $30 per dog per month, and I have two medium sized dogs.[/QUOTE]

Yes that is very true! I have 3 boxers and we dont' spend $180 a month. They all vary in weight. My 2 males are 70 lbs and my girl is 65 (but truth be told she should be 60!). I always buy bulk and whatever is on sale. So I guess $60 is me being on the high side. We also feed lamb which is more expensive and my oldest boy doesn't get any poultry (which is really inexpensive) because he has allergies and the other 2 don't.

My store recommends Pinnacle for allergies...

[url]http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacled.htm[/url]

Try the duck and potato one if you can... people seem to like it. I can tell you I don't think it is that expensive. I've had several people buy it since I just started my job as a cashier at a pet food store and I think it was less then 50$ for a big bag.
[url]http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_products/pinnacle_dog_duck_dry.htm[/url]


[QUOTE]Duck Meal, Potatoes, Oatmeal, Duck, Oat Flour, Potato Fiber, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Flax Seed, Organic Quinoa, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Sage Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Bromelain, Papain, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B Complex), Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.[/QUOTE]

Hope that helps...

[QUOTE=Rockblind;681739]We have changed his food to food without corn with no success.[/QUOTE]

Try something [I]without[/I] [B]wheat[/B] as well, it is a common allergin. As others have mentioned a protein source he has never eaten is also your next step.

I ditto going grain-free, as that seems to cause problems for many dogs. Some suggestions for different protein sources could be duck/fish-based/kangeroo/venison.
THis website [url]www.onlynaturalpet.com[/url] seems to have a selection of good quality grain free and fish based foods and shipping is free over $75. I've ordered my dog's Addiction raw dehydrated from there before and got 10% off as well.

A perfect explanation on the subject
 

Can be found here:
[url]http://thepetslover.com/hypoallergenic-dog-food/[/url]